Typewriter meter device



l 2- A. w. WIDENHAM 2,295,275

TYPEWRIT'ER METER DEVICE Filed Feb. 13, 1940 Fig -1 5 Fig -2 INVENTOR ALLEN W WZDENHHM BY rmmr Patented Sept. 8, 1942 UNHTD STTES AT OFFICE 4 Claims.

lhis invention relates to a typewriter meter device, and has for its main object a device in a typewriter adapted to visibly indicate the extent of movement of a sheet of paper through the typewriter in order to enable the operator to determine accurately at a glance the position of the lower edge of said sheet relative to the line being typed. Another object of the invention is a device of the above character that is adapted to be attached to a standard typewriter without interfering with the existing mechanism and structure. A still further object is a device of the character first described above, adapted to be quickly set or positioned independently of movement of the sheet or actuation of the typewriter platen, and which device is adapted to be actuated for indicating the movement of the sheet by movement of the platen. Other objects and advantages will appear in the description annexed hereto.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a part sectional and part elevational view of a fragmentary portion of a typewriter showing my improved device in position on the latter.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figql.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of a dilferent form of the device, part of the typewriter being shown.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the form of the invention of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan or edge view of the platen turning disk or handle separate from the remainder of the device.

Fig, '7 is a sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of a modified form of scale adapted for use with either of the forms of invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4.

Briefly described, heretofore the person using a typewriter of the type using a cylindrical platen, has been unable to determine accurately exactly how near the last line of typewritten matter is positioned with respect to the lower edge of the sheet without rolling the sheet out of the typewriter or without lifting the upper edge of the sheet and making a mental calculation as to how much room remains on the sheet. Of course, where there are numbers printed on one of the margins of the sheet, this difficulty is obviated, but ordinarily the sheets are blank. In either of the first two methods above described the conclusion reached by the operator is subject to inaccuracy and in any event, valuable time is lost in making the examination.

Also, it happens frequently that the operator desired to commence the typing on each of several sheets at a predetermined uniform point or to end the typing on each of several sheets at a point a substantial, but predetermined uniform point from the lower edge of each sheet, or both.

This invention provides simple means for enabling the operator to accurately accomplish the above results, and which means comprises a device that is suitable for attachment to any standard typewriter having a cylindrical rotatable platen without interfering with the normal use of the typewriter, and without requiring a material modification of such typewriter.

In detail, referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the standard rotary platen on a standard typewriter is indicated at I, which platen is secured on a shaft 2 with a platen knob 3 removably secured by one or more set screws 4 on one of the ends of said shaft outwardly of the typewriter frame 5. The platen knob 3 is provided with a hub 6 that receives the end of said shaft, and screws 4 extend through a sleeve 1 surrounding the end of said hub at a point between frame 5 and knob 3, but spaced from the knob a predetermined distance. The inner ends of screws 4 ordinarily engage flattened portions on shaft 2 after pass ing through openings in the hub in registration with the threaded openings in the sleeve 1.

My meter device is positioned between the sleeve '5 and a shoulder 8 formed on hub 6 adjacent the side of the knob that faces frame 5.

This meter device comprises a generally cylindrical support 9 substantially of disk-like shape, formed with an annular outwardly projecting flange it around its periphery adjacent the side of the support nearest the frame 5.

A relatively narrow cylindrical, ring-like member I! is slidably supported on the peripheral surface of the disk 9 with one edge of member H in slidable engagement with the side of flange that faces the knob 3, while the opposite edge of said member extends a distance from the disk toward the platen knob.

Within the margin of the member ii, is a ring gear l2, having radially inwardly directed teeth that mesh with the teeth of a small spur gear IS, the latter being positioned between the ring 'gear and hub 6 at one side of the latter, while the teeth of gear I3 at the side thereof opposite their engagement with the ring gear, are in mesh with a pinion It secured centrally thereof to hub 6 adjacent the shoulder 8 of the latter. The ring gear I 2 is held in frictional engagement with the cylindrical member II by a conventional leaf spring I5, which latter spring may be generally annular in shape with waves or relatively wide corrugations formed therein to yieldably engage both the inner surface of the member I I and the outer surface of the ring gear so as to cause the member II to rotate with the ring gear upon rotation of the latter about its axis, but which will enable the member I I to be rotated relative to the ring gear and disk 9 upon holding the gear stationary and turning the member I I by overcoming the frictional resistance caused by spring I5. The disk 9 is formed on its side facing the knob 3 with an arcuately shaped projection I6 (Fig. 2) concentric with the axis of shaft 2, the radially outwardly facing curved side of which projection forms a seat slidably engaging the teeth of the ring gear to thus support the ring gear for rotation about the central axis of shaft 2. This projection I6 is broken in length to accommodate the spur gear I3, which gear is rotatably supported on a bearing pin I! carried by and projecting from the member 9.

A disk like cover I8 formed with a central aperture rotatably passing the hub 6 of the knob 3, constitutes a closure extending over the gears I3, I6 and slightly over the edge of the member II that is nearest knob 3, said cover being secured to the projection I6 by screws I9.

The member 9 may be held against rotation by any suitable means, one of which may constitute a bracket arm 20 projecting therefrom toward the frame and projecting through an opening 2| in said frame. Naturally a screw may connect arm 20 with the frame, but this would require tapping a hole and would add to the expense and trouble of attaching and removing my device in position.

The outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member II may be knurled at one or both of its margins as at 22 to provide a convenient grip for the fingers, although this is not absolutely necessary. Said outer peripheral surface of cylindrical member II is marked with indicia, such as numerals 23 such as from 1 to 14 with suitable graduations or lines extending axially of the member transversely thereacross at said numbers. These numbers are equally spaced apart, and graduation lines or marks may divide the spaces between the main lines that are identified by the numbers. These numbers may commence with a fiducial point, which may be the number 14 of the indicia, as indicated in Fig. 1, wherein the number 14 is the number of highest value, at one end of the scale. I11 the drawing the numbers are intended to designate inches of surface travel of the platen when the latter is rotated, and consequently, the inches of travel of the sheet moved by the platen, and on which matter is being typed. Thus, assuming the upper edge of a standard 14 inch sheet of paper is gripped by the platen, the operator will then turn the cylindrical member II relative to the platen, with the latter being held stationary, until the number I4 is directly opposite pointer 24. This pointer is preferably secured to the disk 9 and extends from flange I0 over one margin of member II at a point where it is most readily seen by the operator.

After the member II is set as above described, upon rotation of the knob 3 for moving the sheet past the type, it will be seen that for each inch of movement of the sheet, the numbers I3, I2, etc., in descending value from I4, will pass the pointer 24 and when the numeral I reaches the pointer the operator will know that only one inch of paper remains in the typewriter. In Fig. 8 is shown a slightly different arrangement of numerals on the cylindrical member II, with the fiducial point designated by either a zero as at 25 and the highest number ending with the numeral 13, or the fiducial point may be designated by the numeral 14 as indicated at 26 and with the numbers arranged to be of increasing value as the sheet is moved past the type, instead of the numbers arranged in decreasing value. In the latter instance, which may be preferable in some instances, the operator may readily see exactly how far the sheet is moved rather than the distance to the lower end of the sheet. Where the same operator uses various sheets of known lengths, the latter system is preferable, since when the numeral 6, for example, reaches the pointer, and an 8 inch sheet is in the typewriter, the operator knows that only 2 inches are left, whereas when the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 is used, at the same point, the numeral 8 would appear instead of the numeral 6 and the operator would be compelled to make a more complex mental calculation to determine exactly how near the last typed line, or the one to be typed, was positioned with respect to the lower edge of the sheet.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that my attachment, as illustrated, may be readily positioned on a standard machine by merely removing the platen knob and substituting my knob with the remainder of the elements supported on hub 6 of said knob. The same set screws 4 may be used to secure my device to the shaft 2 without modification.

In Fig. 4 to 7, I show a slightly different form of device that functions to accomplish the same result as the device already described, except that only external toothed gears are used and the indicia-carrying cylinder is not concentric with the platen shaft.

In this form of device, the platen knob 30 carries a. hub 3| to which may be secured a pinion 32, the said hub being adapted to receive the shaft 33 of the platen therein with screws 34, securing the hub to the shaft.

A bracket plate 35 is supported vertically in a position between the frame 5 of the typewriter and the platen knob 30 by means of a bracket arm 36 (Fig. 5) secured by screw 31 to a conventional portion of the carriage of the typewriter. This screw is found in most typewriters, particularly from 1937 to 1940 models of the Royal typewriters, hence no modification whatsoever need be made in the typewriter for installing my attachment, other than a substitution of the platen knob by one carrying a gear, although the gear may be secured onto the hub of a standard platen knob in some instances.

The teeth of gear 32 mesh with the teeth of a pinion 38, rotatably supported on a shaft 39 secured to said bracket plate 35, while the teeth of pinion 38 are in mesh with a relatively large gear 40 that is rotatable on a bushing 4| on a shaft 42 (Fig. 7). Shaft 42 is likewise secured to the bracket plate 35 and said shaft rotatably supports a disk 43 thereon, which disk frictionally bears against one lateral side of gear 40. Said disk is held in said frictional engagement by head 44 of shaft 42, a washer being preferably disposed between said head and the central portion of disk 43, which central portion is preferably bowed outwardly away from the gear 40 so that only the margin of the disk bears against the gear.

The peripheral edge of disk 43 is formed with an annular flange I I that carries numbers similar to those already described, and which numbers or indicia (if other symbols are used), are arranged as best indicated in Fig. 8 on member l'l or they may be arranged as indicated on the cylindrical member II of Fig. l or as shown in Fig. 5.

The bracket plate 35 may be formed with a flange 46 extending over the teeth of gear 40 and which flange carries pointer 24.

The operation is identical with the device of Fig. 1, except that the flange II in Figs. 4 and 5 is revolved opposite to the direction of revolution of the annular member ll of Fig. 1. This, of course, merely requires arranging the numbers on the member I I in ascending or descending value commencing at a fiducial point according to the arrangement most convenient for the operator.

The annular members H, II, or the flange H", as the case may be, are preferably of a diameter to have a surface speed directly proportional to the surface speed of the platen, although this may be changed as desired without invention, provided the movement of the members carrying the indicia is sufficient to enable a quick accurate reading at a glance. In any event, however, the speed of rotation is in exact proportion to the movement of the platen.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a typewriter having a cylindrical platen secured on a revolvable shaft for moving a sheet of paper past the type when said shaft is revolved on its axis, a hollow cylindrical dial, circular end walls closing the ends of the dial and coaxial therewith and supporting said dial for revolving relative to said end walls on its central axis, gear means disposed between said end walls and within said dial and connecting said shaft and said dial for revolving said dial upon revolution of said shaft and platen,

means supporting said end walls on said shaft at one end of said platen coaxial therewith, means securing said end walls stationary at all times relative to said shaft and platen, and friction means supporting said dial for revolving on its central axis relative to said shaft and said gear means upon manually revolving said dial for setting the same when said shaft is stationary, said dial having inscribed thereon a row of indicia extending circumferentially thereof at predetermined spaced intervals arranged and adapted to visibly indicate the degree of movement of said platen relative to a fiducial point on said dial, and a pointer secured to one of said end walls positioned to indicate a reading point on said dial when the latter is revolved.

2. A typewriter attachment of the character described, comprising; a hollow, cylindrical, open-ended dial; opposed end walls closing said open ends; an annular, internal gear within said dial coaxial therewith; a bearing member carried by one of said end walls'disposed within said internal gear and supporting said gear for rotation; friction means disposed between said gear and said dial supporting said dial for rotation on said gear; a first spur gear rotatably mounted in said end walls and centrally disposed within said internal gear and spaced from the latter; a second spur gear disposed between said first spur gear and said internal gear providing a driving connection between said first spur gear and said internal gear; means supporting said second spur ear on one of said end walls for rotation about its axis; and means securing said end walls together and against rotation relative to each other. I

3. In a construction as defined in claim 2, said bearing member being in slidable engagement with the teeth of said internal gear and extending circumferentially of the row of said teeth.

4. In a construction as defined in claim 2, the said bearing member extending across the space between said end walls and spacing said end walls apart.

ALLEN W. WIDENI-IAM. 

